04 · Youthful Folly (MÉNG)
Meng is the stage of not yet seeing clearly. A spring emerges beneath a mountain: understanding has begun, but it needs direction, boundaries, and patient cultivation before it can become a clear stream. The six lines move from first discipline to receptive learning and, finally, the protection of what has been learned.
The judgment
Meng: success. It is not I who seek the young and inexperienced; the young and inexperienced seek me. At the first inquiry I answer. Repeated, irreverent questioning is not answered. Steadfastness is beneficial.
Learning can open a way forward, but it must begin with a sincere wish to understand. A teacher does not chase the learner with answers. An honest first question deserves guidance; repeated testing without attention only clouds the mind. The aim is to cultivate a steady and correct orientation.
Original Chinese text
蒙：亨。匪我求童蒙，童蒙求我。初筮告，再三瀆，瀆則不告。利貞。
The six lines
- 初六 · Line 1 — To open the ignorant mind, it is beneficial to use discipline and thereby remove restraints. To continue relying on punishment brings regret.
Original Chinese
發蒙，利用刑人，用說桎梏，以往吝。
- 九二 · Line 2 — To embrace the inexperienced is auspicious. To receive the wife is auspicious. The son is able to manage the household.
Original Chinese
包蒙吉；納婦吉；子克家。
- 六三 · Line 3 — Do not take such a woman. Seeing a man of wealth, she does not keep possession of herself. Nothing is beneficial.
Original Chinese
勿用取女；見金夫，不有躬，無攸利。
- 六四 · Line 4 — Confined in ignorance. Regret.
Original Chinese
困蒙，吝。
- 六五 · Line 5 — The innocence of the young and inexperienced. Auspicious.
Original Chinese
童蒙，吉。
- 上九 · Line 6 — Strike ignorance. It is not beneficial to act as a robber; it is beneficial to defend against robbers.
Original Chinese
擊蒙；不利為寇，利禦寇。